Painting with Alex Grey 🎨
A glimpse into a larger-than-life dream come true, grounded in a simple revelation of shared humanity 🎨
This past week, I had the immense honor of being selected as one of 22 visionary artists to gather from all over the world for a week of creative emergence at COSM Chapel of Sacred Mirrors with Alex Grey and Allyson Grey.
Every day, we painted, dined, and learned from one another from dawn until midnight.
Ever since reading Alex's book The Mission of Art 2 summers ago, I've felt a call to learn from him.
In his book, he describes how the majority of art school students stop making art 5-10 years after graduating as, if they're truly committed to a path of authenticity, it's nearly inevitable they'll confront their shadow in their work- and that can be really scary.
Up until reading Alex's book, I hadn't had a frame of reference for the shadow material that emerged while I was in art school- all I knew was that discovering yoga during that time grounded me in a set of ethics and principals within which I could begin to face the darkness within me without collapsing or inflicting further violence.
It has been my mission ever since to tend the liberation of consciousness and emergence of the Soul.
This was one of the most illuminating weeks of my life.
My ego went in with visions of grandiosity, yet it was evident my Soul was asking for simplicity:
Honoring my Heart, and the Nature that has held me in the many years of dissolution— with presence, humility, and a willingness to confront familiar insecurities all over again, was the Way.
Every day I’d sit, stand, dance, kneel before the canvas, feeling the challenging narratives arise in my body and allowing them to gently transform through love, into love, from Love's roots, as I painted the roots of a beloved, ancient friend who has held me in grace and wisdom.
One of the most impactful revelations was realizing how even the most masterful and aspirational of artists STILL are met with internal opposition, and yet, they forge onward.
Feeling the Flame and Genius of everyone in the room, and witnessing the highs, lows, and moments of elation as well as perseverance within the insecurities, all weaving within our collective experience, was such a powerful lifting of the veil - and it lit a fire within me.
There is much more to celebrate and assimilate from this experience that I look forward to sharing here!
For now, enjoy this slide carousel for a taste of the wonder, and tags to view the works of the other incredible artists who joined together to create within and through such a phenomenal field of shared inspiration!
